Shipping device with bondable foam layer

Abstract

A method and apparatus for preparing an item or plurality of items for shipment. Disposing one or a plurality of items on a rigid surface having a deformable foam layer with a bonding material thereon wherin the items are connectingly bonded to the foam layer which is deformed in response to the items. The items may be items of china, floral containers, and flower pots, or other similar items.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of preparing an item for shipment, comprising: providing a shipping device comprising a rigid support surface at least a portion of which has a deformable foam layer disposed thereupon and connected thereto, the deformable foam layer having an upper bonding surface comprising a connecting bonding material; and   securing at least one item to the shipping device by placing the item upon the foam layer of the shipping device and bondingly connecting the item to the foam layer via the connecting bonding material wherein a portion of the foam layer adjacent the item is deformed in response to pressure exerted on the foam layer by the item wherein the foam layer conforms to a portion of the item such that the item is secured for shipment.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of providing the shipping device the bonding material is an adhesive. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of placing the item, the item comprises a connecting bonding material disposed upon a portion thereof for cooperating with the connecting bonding material of the foam layer to bondingly connect the item to the foam layer. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 3 wherein in the step of providing the shipping device and placing the item, the connecting bonding material of the foam layer and the connecting bonding material of the item are cohesive materials. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of providing the shipping device, the shipping device further comprises a plurality of side walls attached to the rigid support surface and surrounding the deformable foam layer. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step of positioning a partition adjacent the at least one item bondingly connected to the foam layer of the shipping device. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of placing the item, the item is an item of china. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 1 wherein on the step of placing the item, the item is a floral container. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 8 wherein the floral container contains a floral grouping disposed therein. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of transporting the shipping device and the at least one item secured thereto to a predetermined destination. 
     
     
       11. A shipping device, comprising: a rigid support surface;   a deformable foam layer disposed upon at least a portion of the rigid support surface and connected thereto; and   an upper bonding surface of the deformable foam layer comprising a connecting bonding material for bondingly connecting at least one item to the foam layer and wherein a portion of the foam layer adjacent the item is deformed in response to pressure exerted on the foam layer by the item when the item is placed upon the foam layer wherein the foam layer conforms to a portion of the item for securing the item to the shipping device for shipment.   
     
     
       12. The shipping device of claim 11 wherein the connecting bonding material is an adhesive or cohesive. 
     
     
       13. The shipping device of claim 11 further comprising a partition for being positioned adjacent the item placed upon the shipping device. 
     
     
       14. The shipping device of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of side walls attached to the rigid support surface and surrounding the deformable foam layer. 
     
     
       15. The shipping device of claim 11 wherein the rigid support surface is constructed from the group consisting of cardboard, wood, metal, glass, plastic, thermoplastics, fiberglass, and resins. 
     
     
       16. A shipping assembly, comprising: a shipping device comprising a rigid support surface at least a portion of which has a deformable foam layer disposed thereupon and connected thereto, the deformable foam layer having an upper bonding surface comprising a connecting bonding material; and   at least one item placed upon the foam layer of the shipping device and bondingly connected to the foam layer via the connecting bonding material wherein a portion of the foam layer adjacent the item is deformed in response to pressure exerted on the foam layer by the item wherein the foam layer conforms to a lower end of the item such that the item is secured to the device for shipment.   
     
     
       17. The shipping device of claim 16 wherein the connecting bonding material is an adhesive. 
     
     
       18. The shipping device of claim 16 further comprising a partition positioned adjacent the item placed upon the shipping device. 
     
     
       19. The shipping device of claim 16 further comprising a plurality of side walls attached to the rigid support surface and surrounding the deformable foam layer. 
     
     
       20. The shipping assembly of claim 16 wherein the item comprises a connecting bonding material disposed thereon for cooperating with the connecting bonding material of the foam layer to bondingly connect the item to the foam layer. 
     
     
       21. The shipping assembly of claim 20 wherein the connecting bonding material of the foam layer and the connecting bonding material of the item are cohesive bonding materials. 
     
     
       22. The shipping assembly of claim 16 wherein the item is a floral container. 
     
     
       23. The shipping assembly of claim 22 wherein the floral container contains a floral grouping disposed therein. 
     
     
       24. The shipping assembly of claim 16 wherein the item is an item of china. 
     
     
       25. The shipping assembly of claim 16 wherein the rigid support surface is constructed from the gravy consisting of cardboard, wood, metal, glass, plastic, thermoplastics, fiberglass, and resins. 
     
     
       26. A method of preparing a floral grouping for shipment, comprising: providing a shipping device comprising a rigid support surface at least a portion of which has a deformable foam layer disposed thereupon and connected thereto, the deformable foam layer having an upper bonding surface comprising a connecting bonding material; and   securing at least one floral container having a lower end and having a floral grouping therein to the shipping device by placing the floral container upon the foam layer of the shipping device and bondingly connecting the lower end of the floral container to the foam layer via the connecting bonding material wherein a portion of the foam layer adjacent the item is deformed in response to pressure exerted on the foam layer by the floral container wherein the foam layer conforms to the lower end of the floral container such that the floral container is secured for shipment.   
     
     
       27. The method of claim 26 wherein in the step of providing the shipping device the bonding material is an adhesive. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 26 wherein in the step of placing the floral container, the floral container comprises a connecting bonding material disposed upon a portion thereof for cooperating with the connecting bonding material of the foam layer to bondingly connect the lower end of the floral container to the foam layer. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 28 wherein in the step of providing the shipping device and placing the floral container, the connecting bonding material of the foam layer and the connecting bonding material of the floral container are cohesive materials. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of transporting the shipping device and the floral container secured thereto to a predetermined destination. 
     
     
       31. The shipping device of claim 26 wherein the rigid support surface is constructed from the group consisting of cardboard, wood, metal, glass, plastic, thermoplastics, fiberglass, and resins. 
     
     
       32. A shipping assembly, comprising: a shipping device comprising a rigid support surface at least a portion of which has a deformable foam layer disposed thereupon and connected thereto, the deformable foam layer having an upper bonding surface comprising a connecting bonding material; and   at least one floral container having a lower end and having a floral grouping therein placed upon the foam layer of the shipping device and the lower end of the floral container is bondingly connected to the foam layer via the connecting bonding material wherein a portion of the foam layer adjacent the lower end of the floral container is deformed in response to pressure exerted on the foam layer by the floral container wherein the foam layer conforms to the lower end of the floral container such that the floral container is secured to the device for shipment.   
     
     
       33. The shipping device of claim 32 wherein the connecting bonding material is an adhesive. 
     
     
       34. The shipping assembly of claim 32 wherein the floral container comprises a connecting bonding material disposed thereon for cooperating with the connecting bonding material of the foam layer to bondingly connect the lower end of the floral container to the foam layer. 
     
     
       35. The shipping assembly of claim 34 wherein the connecting bonding material of the foam layer and the connecting bonding material of the floral container are cohesive bonding materials. 
     
     
       36. The shipping assembly of claim 32 wherein the rigid support surface is constructed from the group consisting of cardboard, wood, metal, glass, plastic, thermoplastics, fiberglass, and resins.